Here are some interesting comments from Tom Tomasello from his July 1991 Golf Illustrated interview, the following excerpt from that interview is in regards to the swinging procedure, for Tommy that was a swinging procedure with right arm acceleration. The right arm trigger 10-20-B starts the downswing.
Delaware Golf
Thanks, DG, for putting up this interview. Given Tommy's status as an earlyGSED, it is unavoidably part of the TGM 'literature.' It is for that reason,and for that reason only, that I am writing this post. While Tommy wasundoubtedly an effective 'hands-on' teacher, this interview contains manyinaccuracies. I do not have the time for the debate -- heated or otherwise --that would follow any specific comments. Therefore, I have reprinted theinterview below and provided TGM reference numbers for those interested instudying The Facts and drawing their own conclusions. Since this is'your' Thread, if you so choose, you have my permission in advance to ask thatit be taken down. My comments appear in bold, usually at the end -- butsometimes during -- each of Tommy's responses.
Tomasello: Here we get into the terminology that scares people. Youswing the club via two "divergent force vectors." This simply meansthat two different forces are being combined. One force is moving the clubupward and downward. A second force is moving the club outward, away from you.The upward and downward force is provided by a straight-up folding andunfolding of the right forearm from its address position. You simply fold yourright arm at the elbow to swing the club up. From there, you try to throw theclubhead into the ground by unfolding your right arm. The outward or horizontalforce comes from the pivoting of the hips to the right rear on the backswingand the left rear on the downswing. This horizontal force throws the clubheadout away from you, on a horizontal plane. On the downswing, when you combinethese two "divergent force vectors," the result is the movement of theclub on the correct plane.
For THE FACTS on the Downward and Outward FORCE VECTORS, study 2-N-1.
Golf Illustrated: This "throwing the club down" with the rightforearm--doesn't that go against everything we've been taught about thedownswing.
Tomasello: Yes. The delayed hit is merely keeping the right wrist bentthrough impact.
For THE FACTS about the Delayed Hit, study the Trigger Types (10-20),particularly the Automatic Delivery Path and Wrist Throws. Also, study theReleases (10-24), particularly the Snap Releases.
All that stuff about leading the downswing with a lateral move of the lowerbody, driving the hips and legs toward the target to retain power--it's allterribly wrong! It seems to be what's happening, but it's not really whathappens in the most efficient, centrifugal-force golf swing. The reality thatmost people can't comprehend is that in the centrifugal force swing there is noforward motion by any part of the body. There are just the two "forcevectors" I've described.
For THE FACTS about lateral (or forward) motion of the lower body (Hip Slideand Axis Tilt or lack thereof), study the Pivot (7-12), Zone #1 (9-1 includingall pictures), Shoulder Motions (2-H), Clubhead Line of Flight (2-N-0), HipTurn (7-14 and 10-14) and Circle Path Delivery (10-23-E).
Golf Illustrated: Are you saying that the golfer has to do less with hisbody? Aren't there any physical requirements?
Tomasello: The only agility needed by the player is to be able to turnthe hips--to pivot around a fixed point--and to lever and unlever the rightforearm. The faster you can make these two movements, the greater thecentrifugal force you'll build up and the farther you'll hit the ball. For THE FACTS about simplification by omission, see Simplicy (1-B).
Golf Illustrated: And what about everything else: feet, knees,shoulders, hands, wrists?
Tomasello: All these body parts move, of course, but only in response tothe up-and-down force of the right forearm and the outward force of the hiprotation.
For THE FACTS about Outward and Downward Forces, restudy Force Vectors(2-N-1).
Your shoulders, for example, turn only because your hips have turned. There isno "tension" or "separation" of the hips and shoulders.
For THE FACTS about sequencing the Hip and Shoulder Turns, study Hip Action(10-15), Pivot Lag (6-C-0 and 7-12) and Hula-Hula Flexibility (7-14).
Golf Illustrated: It sounds as if a student would have to unlearn mostof what he's been taught.
Tomasello: The question is whether it's easier to learn to perform asequence of actions or to learn to do nothing. Ordinarily it's easier to donothing, but if you're used to doing a lot of somethings, learning to donothing can be the toughest thing in the world. The hardest thing for thegolfer is to apply no forward force to the swing with the right hand and arm,or with a lateral movement of the hips.
For THE FACTS about Three-Dimensional Impacts, including the Forward Dimension,study Linear Force (2-C-0), Plane of Motion (2-F), the Right Forearm Angle ofApproach (Strokes-Basic 7-3) and On Plane Clubhead Lag Pressure (7-11, 1-L #10and #11).
Golf Illustrated: What happens to the shots of a player who executesthese moves?
Tomasello: The player will immediately hit the ball higher andstraighter, and substantially longer. The flight pattern will be dead straightto its apex, with the ball falling a touch left or drawing fractionally as itdescends.
Golf Illustrated: How long before a student makes significantimprovement?
Tomasello: I can give you documented examples of golfers with noprevious record of success who started winning tournaments at various levelsalmost immediately.
While there are no doubt cases of startling improvement, for THE FACTS aboutrealistic expectations, study Instant Perfection versus Continuous Progress(The Preface) and Pattern Development (1-E).
But the learning is never-ending. The amount of time and dedication the golferputs in determines how far he or she can go.
Hybrid Mode
